Guidelines for Groups on the GCTLC

This document was uploaded on April 15, 2025 and was last updated on April 15, 2025. The document will be continually updated as new functionality, processes, and/or information becomes available.

If you can’t find the information you need in the guidelines below, please consult the following additional resources:

• Refer to the Guidelines and Training for Moderators document for important recommendations and best practices for moderating groups.
• Drop in to regular virtual office hours with the Chief Moderator - Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 pm ET - join through Zoom here.
• Email the Chief Moderator for the GCTLC (chief_moderator@gctlc.org) with any questions or concerns.
• (Coming soon!) How-to videos by leaders in the community

What are Groups?

A group is any collection of users on the GCTLC platform that come together around a common cause, project, or theme within green chemistry education. Each group has a dedicated space on the platform where users within that group can discuss aspects of their common connection, see other group members, start collaborative projects, and share files and links.

The following are basic properties of a group:

• Only registered GCTLC users can create, join and participate in groups.
• A group can contain any number of registered users
• A group can operate on the platform for as long as needed. However, inactive groups may be archived at the request of the group moderator(s) or at the discretion of the Chief Moderator or administrators.
• Each group will be overseen by one or more moderators. Moderators are responsible for keeping track of all content, comments, and posts within groups to ensure they adhere to the GCTLC’s Terms and Conditions of Use and Code of Conduct. Moderators can report issues or violations of the Code of Conduct or Terms and Conditions of Use using the online reporting form. In the case of a new group, the user requesting the creation of the group is automatically assigned to be the group’s moderator until a new moderator is chosen or additional moderators are added. In addition, every group must have at least one moderator to continue operating on the GCTLC.
• When creating a group for the first time, users can select one of three visibility settings:
  • Public: Anyone can see the group's contents, including anonymous visitors (they don’t have to be registered GCTLC users).
  • Community: Only registered GCTLC users can see the group's contents; anonymous site visitors cannot.
  • Private (Group Only): Only group members can see the group's contents. Other registered GCTLC users and anonymous visitors cannot. This is a fully private group.

Note that regardless of the visibility setting, a user MUST be a member of the group to participate in the group (e.g., add comments, start discussion threads, add new projects, share files and links, etc.)

• When creating a group for the first time, users will also be asked to select one of three access settings (how to join the group):
  • Open: Any registered GCTLC user can join the group at any time. They do not need to request to join.
  • Request: Registered GCTLC users can request to join the group and one of the moderators must approve their request.
  • Invitation Only: Registered GCTLC users can only join a group after they’ve been invited by another group member. 

IMPORTANT: Once the group access and visibility permissions are set, they CANNOT be changed. Note also that only certain combinations of settings are possible (for example, a group cannot be Open in terms of access and Group Only in terms of visibility).

If an error is made when choosing the group type during submission, please contact the Chief Moderator (chief_moderator@gctlc.org) or GCTLC admin (admin@gctlc.org) for help.

Purpose of Groups

GCTLC users may want to participate in groups for any number of reasons, including but not limited to:

• Joining curriculum development groups or projects.
• Learning how to transform an existing course into a green chem-centered course.
• Discussing common challenges with implementing green chemistry and strategies to overcome them.
• Socializing and connecting/re-connecting with like-minded colleagues and friends.
• Talking to subject matter/topic experts.
• Getting feedback on curriculum development.
• Learning about languages and cultures, and joining communities based on identities.
• Undertaking education research and/or sharing research findings, results, etc.
• Meeting new people and connecting with those from the same or different institutions or geographic regions.
• Establishing collaborations with users from across the world.
• Establishing peer-to-peer mentoring or support networks.

Creating a Group (coming September 2025)

Any GCTLC registered user can submit a request (coming September 2025) to create a new group on the GCTLC. Submitted requests are reviewed by the Chief Moderator to ensure alignment with the GCTLC’s mission and mandate and to avoid duplication of existing groups. Users will need to provide the following information to create a group: 

Visibility: Public, Community, or Private (Group Only) - see details above.

Access: Open, Request, or Invitation Only - see details above.

Group Details: Users must then provide group details as follows:

• Group Name*
• Group Image (optional)
• Description*
• Keywords or Suggested Keywords*
• Intended Audience*
• Green Chemistry tags (i.e., which green chemistry principles connect to the group theme)*
• U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) tags (optional)
• Rationale for Group Creation*

* = required field

Agreement to Guidelines Documents: Users must declare that they have read and agree to the Guidelines for Groups on the GCTLC (this document) and the Guidelines and Training for Moderators (Groups and Forums).

Note that the submission form cannot be saved as a draft and returned to later (in other words, it must be submitted in order for the request to be processed).

The user submitting the request for a new group will automatically become the first moderator for the group. If desired, this moderator can then assign (with permission) additional moderators from the existing group membership. The submitting user can leave their role as moderator provided another moderator has been assigned to take over. Importantly, there must always be at least one active moderator in each group at all times.

Review Criteria and Process

Once a form is submitted to create a new group, it will be reviewed by the Chief Moderator, who will assess the request based on the following considerations:

• Does the group’s theme and purpose align with green chemistry/sustainability in STEM learning and education?
• Is the group duplicative of any existing groups?
• Does the group foster a sense of belonging and community, and does it have a strong rationale? 
• Are there other reasons the group may not be appropriate for the GCTLC?

If revisions or changes are requested, the Chief Moderator may contact the submitting user directly for clarification or updates before publishing the group. Ultimately, the Chief Moderator will determine if the group request should be approved, revised, or rejected. The submitting user will receive an email notification of the review results, typically within one (1) week of submission. If revisions are requested, the submitting user must make those changes directly in the group by navigating to the group’s URL in the email and clicking the blue “Edit” button at the bottom of the group homepage (see screenshot below). Once the changes are saved, the Chief Moderator will review them and again determine whether to publish the group.

Image

Appeals

If a request to create a new group is denied, or if an existing group has been removed from the platform not at the request of the group moderator/members, a user can appeal the decision by emailing the Chief Moderator directly (chief_moderator@gctlc.org), requesting an appeal. The Chief Moderator must then forward the appeal and the original submission to the Conduct Administrator/DEBR subcommittee for review. The Conduct Administrator/subcommittee will deliberate and determine if the decision was made equitably and is justified. If they find this was the case, the decision will stand. If the committee believes the review was done inequitably or unfairly, they may overturn the decision, approve the request directly, and/or request a second review from a qualified and designated representative (such as another administrator or Advisory Committee member).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are some common questions anticipated from users for groups:

• How many users can participate in a group?
  • Groups can have any number of members, as long as they are registered users on the platform. There is no numerical limit.
• How do I know if my new group will be unique from existing groups?
  • Any user looking to create a new group should check the main groups page (link coming soon) to see existing groups and ensure no duplication of themes or audience. This prevents confusion for other users looking to join new groups and to help direct conversations to the right locations and channels. On the main groups search page (link coming soon), users can by audience level, green chemistry principles, common keywords, and more. Users should also check the group descriptions/summaries to ensure they are sufficiently different from the new group the user wishes to create. 
• Is there a limit to the number of groups I can create and/or moderate?
  • No, registered users can create any number of groups they wish and moderate any number of groups, provided they meet the criteria for submission and review.
• What happens if my group request is denied?
  • Denials may happen if the group is duplicative of one or more existing groups on the GCTLC, if the theme does not align with the theme and intention of the GCTLC, or for any other reasons. If a group request is denied, the submitting user always has the option to appeal the decision by emailing the Chief Moderator directly (chief_moderator@gctlc.org) and requesting an appeal.
• Can I change the settings for my group after I create it?
  • Group moderators can update the details of their group (such as the group description, group image, keywords tags, etc.) at any time. Please note that these changes must then be approved by the Chief Moderator before the group is published again for users to access. However, once a group is created, the visibility and access permissions CANNOT be changed. These settings currently cannot be modified.
• What happens to content I’ve added to a group after I leave the group?
  • Any content added to a group will remain even after the user who uploaded it leaves the group. At that point, the user who uploaded it will no longer be able to edit, change, or delete it. They would have to rejoin the group to be able to make changes to their content again.

Questions? Where to get started?

Users can contact the Chief Moderator at chief_moderator@gctlc.org or visit the Chief Moderator during weekly office hours on Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 pm ET.